Saddam trial resumes in Baghdad courtroom

BAGHDAD: The trial of Saddam Hussein and six of his former commanders, accused of orchestrating a genocidal campaign against ethnic Kurds in the late 1980s, resumed in Iraq on Monday.   

Saddam and his cousin Ali Hassan al-Majeed, also known as ;Chemical Ali;, face charges of genocide whilst the other defendants, who include Iraq's former defence minister, face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.   

More witnesses are expected to take the stand on Monday.   

The Anfal campaign, or "spoils of war", took place in 1988 when Saddam's army launched a military campaign against ethnic Kurds in northern Iraq that prosecutors say killed more than 180,000 people and destroyed thousands of villages.   

If found guilty, Saddam and his co-defendants could face death by hanging.